HIGH WATER ELIMINATES RIVERFEST ACTIVITY

With the exception of the Saturday night fireworks display, no riverfront activities are planned at this year's Riverfest. That's because the Mississippi River, until late last month, had been above flood stage for nearly two months.

Since the first of June, the river has fallen enough to reopen the Broadway and Themis Street flood gates. There will be limited space in front of the floodwall for spectators to stand along the riverbank to watch the fireworks on Saturday. A safety fence will be placed along the water's edge to prevent someone from being accidently pushed or stumbling into the water.

"We have to plan all activities for Riverfest in advance," explained Peggy Barringer, president of the Riverfest Board of Directors.

"At the time we were completing our planning, the river had been above flood stage for over a month. We didn't know if the river would be low enough to schedule any events on the riverfront by Riverfest time. Both of the flood gates were closed, and we weren't even sure if the river would be low enough to open the gates by Riverfest. That's why we decided to focus all of our activities inside the floodwall, in the downtown area, this year."

Barringer said this is the second time since 1990 that the Riverfest committee has been forced to cancel riverfront activities because of high water on the river.

"In 1990, we didn't have any activities along the river because of high water, but we did have an air show above the river that year," she noted. "In 1991 and 1992, the river was high both years, but each year we had the St. Charles riverboat providing excursions on the river, so we only needed enough room to put a landing flat along the riverbank so people could get on board."

Barringer said the Riverfest directors discussed bringing the St. Charles riverboat back again this year, but decided against it because there was no assurance the flood gates would be open by Riverfest time.

"Because of the high water in the St. Louis area, there was also some doubt that the riverboat could make the trip from St. Charles to Cape Girardeau because of the low clearance under some of the St. Louis bridges," she added.

"We were very reluctant to schedule any events along the edge of the water right now because of our concern for safety," Barringer explained. "The way the riverfront park is constructed, there are two steep dropoffs still underwater. If a small child or adult not familiar with those dropoffs were to step into the water, the current could sweep them out into the river.

"Because the river is still high, we're going to have plastic fencing up along the edge of the water. We don't want to take any chances."

According to Southeast Missourian records, since 1985, the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau has been at high levels above 25 feet in early June during four of the past nine years.

In 1985 and 1986 the river was around 26-27 feet during Riverfest. In June 1987, it was down to 19-21 feet and between 7-9 feet in June 1988. In 1989, the river stage at Riverfest time was around 16-18 feet.

In June 1990, it was between 32-33 feet, and 26-27 feet in June 1991.

Last year, the river was around 12 feet during Riverfest.

When the river reaches 25 and above, it covers a part of the waterfront area, making it difficult to see the sharp dropoffs.